Posted on Sep 16, 2016
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As an E-4 in the Army, how would I go about addressing an E-7 in the Marine Corps or another branch? They call them Sir, do we as well?

Reason I asked I'm watching recruits from the USMC boot camp calling NCO's Sir/Ma'am, and for the Army we would call the cadre by their rank... But it was clarified below
Posted in these groups: Rules and regulations RegulationCustoms and courtesies logo Customs and Courtesies
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 346
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SFC Greg Bruorton
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In my day (1956-1980), all noncoms were addressed as "Sergeant" except for the First Sergeants and Sergeants Major. "Top" was the informal address for a First Sergeant and "Sergeant Major" for the Sergeants Major. Command Sergeants Major came later in my career and I believe they, also, were addressed as "Sergeant Major."
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TSgt Michael Blaylock
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Duh??? With respect!
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CPL Infantryman
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Just to be safe I would address them as Sirs and Mams if you are not sure.
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PO2 Skip Kirkwood
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"Gunnery Sergeant" is the proper formal address. If you work directly with the individual, or have established a collegial relationship, or if you are senior in grade, "Gunny" is appropriate.
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CPT Doug Waterfield
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Just don't call a Sergeant Major "Sergeant". I made that mistake at boot camp once....

Once.
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PFC Jonathan Albano
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Edited 8 y ago
These days, I stick with Soldier, Marine, Sailor, (ch)Airman (the ch only if I know they have a sense of humor), or Coastie. Occasionally, I'll revert back to preDD214 habits but that doesn't happen often.

On a serious note, when unsure, it's always best to ask what the respectful manner is to address the person in which you are addressing. Something along the lines of "My apologies. I'm unfamiliar with (insert branch)'s regulations. What is the proper way to address you as." From my experiences while in, most will generally take such an action as an attempt to respect their rank (as it is) and will be courteous about the situation.
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SFC Battalion Operations Ncoic
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A Senior Chief Petty Officer threw a fit over the phone when I called him chief in Iraq. The fact that he was coming to me for help did not matter. The Navy takes their rank way too seriously. When I am now I get called by my first name everyday. Took me a while to get used to it.
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PFC Cedric Powell
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Knowing a veteran of the Marines and the Army, you bet your ass, it is Sergeant, Staff Sgt., Gunny or Gunnery Sergeant, on up. I have seen a gunnery address a SFC in the Army just as that, SFC.
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Sgt Larry Gibson
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When I got out, in '82, I had nine days to go before I went from E-4 Sr Airman to E-4 Sergeant. From Airman to NCO; same pay grade. My promotion certificate came in the mail to me at home after ETS. Today, my 3 stripes and a silver star is a Sr. Airman. Anyway, back then, I'd have been Airman and then Sergeant. I was in Law Enforcement and while we were on duty, doing the same jobs and backing each other on the same incidents, we would often just call each other by last names. But, in the office and around others, I wouldn't have even considered calling NCOs senior to me by their first OR last name. They were all named "Sergeant". Even the Senior NCOs, Master Sgt and above, were "Sergeant" unless they were E-9 Chief MSgt and then they were Chief or Sergeant. Officers were always called by their rank. When I was in Izmir, Turkey, the Chief of Security Police was a Sr. MSgt but, since he was "the Chief", we called him "Chief".
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SPC Todd Rhoades
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The proper etiquette, in my opinion, which several tell me is only worth 1 cent, lol, is to approach the individual and immediately apologize for your ignorance. "Excuse me, but I am unfamiliar with the rank insignia of your branch". "What is the proper way to address you"
In this manner you have automatically shown respect, and earned it at the same time.
You have shown it by not addressing them incorrectly. You have earned it by presenting a willingness to learn. I never met a superior that felt disrespected from asking for the benefit of their knowledge.
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SMSgt Jeremy George
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The Air Force is notorious for overusing "Sir" and "Ma'am" for just about any rank and it's extremely annoying to say the least. I never considered myself a hardcore airmen who bleeds blue by any means, but I do think the Air Force should be more formalized in addressing each other by proper ranks and the enlisted corps should not be addressed using titles typically used for officers (e.g., Sir and Ma'am). Having gone through a joint environment tech school in the late 90s, it was obvious the Marines and Army took a lot of pride in being called their specific enlisted rank, whereas, in the Air Force, you are a "sergeant" whether you are E-5 (Staff Sergeant), E-6 (Technical Sergeant), or E-7 (Master Sergeant). It was only at E-8 and E-9 when the titles seem to change to "Senior" or "Chief". I personally took a lot of pride in being enlisted and always preferred being called "Senior" over anything else.
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SSG Joseph VanDyck
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Gunnery Sergeant is proper. Gunny if you know him/her. Guns if you truly know him/her. Sergeant if you don't know better.
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MSgt Mike Ruikka
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To me? No matter what branch, I would address a senior NCO of any branch by full rank. If corrected, I would apologize and refer to them by the correction.

Lower pay grade would be soldier(Army), sailor(Navy), marine(Marines), airman(Air Force)
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SPC Roger Giffen
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I think I would stick with Sergeant for Marines and Air Force. Navy always confused me.
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SSgt Timothy Smith
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Once out of Boot Camp, NCO's and SNCO's were referred by there rank. SSGT Smith or 1stSgt.
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CPO Bill Penrod
CPO Bill Penrod
>1 y
One graduates from "boot camp". and becomes an NCO. Only Navy and Marines go to boot camp. Rarely if ever are they promoted higher than e-3.
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SSgt Timothy Smith
SSgt Timothy Smith
>1 y
I was not referring to them getting the rank right out of boot. I was saying that after they reach the rank of Cpl and above they were referred to by their rank. Unless you are the SgtMaj of the Marine Corp and in which I have seen junior ranking officers him.
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PO1 Engineman
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Being a 1st class in the navy with 17+ years in an NCO hates being called sir or ma'am. You should study the NCO rankings for all militaries. An E-7 in the navy is a Chief, an E-7 in the army is a sergent first class, an E-7 in the Air Force is a master sergent, and a marine E-7 is a gunnery sergent. I hope this helps.
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SGT Alan Dike
SGT Alan Dike
>1 y
Actually, if you're addressing a SFC in the Army, courtesy and customs states their appropriate form of address is sergeant..
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SMSgt Patrick Sampson
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If they are the same rank or below i call them by their last name. If they are enlisted above me I address them by their rank. If they are officers i call them sir or ma'am unless she is a WO then I call her sir. I still hold to the ranks even if they are retired and I know them. That's my spin up.
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SMSgt Patrick Sampson
SMSgt Patrick Sampson
>1 y
I have worked with all branches as a medic to include Brits and coast guard. Never had a problem.
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PO2 Robert Moore
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well....if one is brave (or stupid...we all know that fine line), just address them like this-
"Yo Dude.....wut up"
LOL
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SGT Chris Padgett
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When I first showed up to my unit, I thought I knew rank structure, but then I was introduced to all new titles. At least in a Field Artillery Battery.
You have Gunner, Chief, Gunnery Sgt and Smoke. Those were the ones just in the firing battery.
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SMSgt Patrick Sampson
SMSgt Patrick Sampson
8 y
When I got to the planet the FDC chief corrected me from calling him anything other than chief. When I transferred to the Air Force I found out the chief was not the same rank, got chewed out for that as well. Next I worked on the USNS Mercy and they had a bunch of chiefs, but I out ranked them so I didn't care.
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SGT Anthony Shore
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In the Army, E5 SGT through E7 SFC, you address as Sergeant. E8 Master SGT is addressed as MSG (Master SGT), E9 1SG is First SGT, E9 Sergeant Major is Sergeant Major (SMG) and E9 Command Sergeant Major is Command Sergeant Major (CSM). As for the Marine Corps, unless you're in Recruit Training and are instructed to address your Drill Instructors as Sir or Ma'am, in the fleet you will address them by their Title/Rank and Name "Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Ledyard, Drill Instructor Sergeant Shelton. Gunnery Sergeant (insert name here), Master Gunnery Sergeant (insert name here). Navy and USAF? no clue.
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SGT Anthony Shore
SGT Anthony Shore
>1 y
I stand corrected Chief...MSG-CSM are all E8, however, I have not met a Master Sargent yet who did not get more than a bit miffed at NOT being called Master Sargent.
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SGT Alan Dike
SGT Alan Dike
>1 y
In the Army CSM and SGM are both e9, not e8.
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SFC Andras Yaghjian
SFC Andras Yaghjian
>1 y
Hay Sgt Anthony Shore what Army are you in or was in??? E-8 is Master Sargent of First Sargent , E-9 is Command Sargent Major or Sargent Major.
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Cpl Renee McPherson
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In the Marines if your still in boot camp everyone is sir or ma'am but after that it's by rank.
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CW2 Pilot
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Officers: sir / ma'am
CWO: Mr/Mz ; Chief
Enlisted: E9 Sgt Major; E8 Top Shirt 1st Shirt Master Sgt.

Everyone else is "bub"
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SSG Ruben Montiel
SSG Ruben Montiel
>1 y
until you retire, then everyone is some variant of dickhead
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SSG(P) Owner
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SSG(P) Owner
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Maj (Other / Not listed)
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You're referencing Marine Recruits. Recruits are not yet Marines and Sir/Ma'am is used by recruits intentionally until they graduate. Fleet Marines identify NCOs and SNCOs by their full rank, not the Army ridiculousness of Sergeant for every SNCO or "Command" Sergeant Major. Marines only differentiate the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps...all others are simply Sergeant Major, no add Ins necessary.
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GySgt Joseph  Jay Johnston
GySgt Joseph Jay Johnston
>1 y
When I was in the corp we were a close unit, I was addressed as Gunny.
but that was back in the fourties,fiftys, Korea.Stateside it was Gunnery sergeant...
Lieutentant so,so..Capt,so and so.all formal. In the trenches,It was Gunny,LT. Cap'n.
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SGT Anthony Shore
SGT Anthony Shore
>1 y
When I joined the Marine Corps in 1984, we were directed to refer to our Drill Instructors as Sir, and by rank. i.e. Sir, PVT Shore requests to speak to Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sargent Ledyard, Sir!. After graduation it's only by rank and generally you don't have to request permission to speak first however, it might be a good idea.

In the Army Basic Combat Training (which I was in from October 2007 to Feb 2008, you did not have to "formally" request permission to speak to a Drill Sargent but asking them if they had a moment to speak with you "respectfully" was always a good plan and, you addressed them as "Drill Sargent". After graduation, by "Sargent" only up to Master Sargent (they would get a little miffed for not including the "master" in their rank. Then, First Sargent, Sargent Major and Command Sargent Major. (and Plural of Sargent Major is "Sargents Major" not Sargent Majors.
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SSG(P) Owner
SSG(P) (Join to see)
>1 y
GySgt Joseph Jay Johnston - And don't forget... Those with that "one-in-a-million" CO, who was affectionately know as the "Skipper".
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
8 y
When I went in Marine LTs were called Mister.
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PO1 Barry Basselgia
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When I went to boot camp back in the early 80's. We called our company commanders and other staff at recruit training Sir or Ma'am. It was because of their position not their rank. And we learned pretty quick afternoon boot camp we didn't have to call other enlisted sir or ma'am. So if these are recruits, that could be what's happening.
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Cpl Scott Webb
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Edited >1 y ago
In boot camp, Marine recruits are taught to call everyone sir/ ma'am. (Except other recruits obviously) Once they earn the title Marine and are no longer recruits, they call NCO's by their respective ranks.
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MSgt Bill Loveli
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During boot camp marine recuits call anything that moves "sir"
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Sgt Engineer Equipment Mechanic
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You are talking about recruits. Recruits are not yet Marines, so they address the drill instructors as Sir.
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SPC Team Leader
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The Marines rank is damn near identical to the army.
E5 SGT
E6 STAFF SGT
E7 GUNNY SGT OR GUNNY
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SGT Infantryman
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I find the more stars,stripes,bars,eagles, or anchors they're wearing, the more they like being called "bro" or "dude"
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SGT John Kerins
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All I know for sure is the CSM is addressed as GOD!
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GySgt Joseph  Jay Johnston
GySgt Joseph Jay Johnston
>1 y
So is the CMG............
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Sgt David Mueller
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Marine recruits call all Marines (who have earned their Eagle, Globe, & Anchor) sir or ma'am until boot camp graduation, then they address them by rank. During my enlisted time if I saw someone from another branch and recognized their insignia I would address them by rank, if not I would call them sir (or ma'am).
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MSG Clark Shumway
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In the Old Corps you can call an E-7 and above, Sir in the USMC. The rank below that is you call them by their rank.
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Cpl Kent Mitchell
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Marine boots call everyone "sir/ma'am.
Do army guys actually call each other by their pay grades? "Good morning E-7," "Good morning, E-3." Don't they have ranks anymore?
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Cpl Josh Earnest
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Recruits in boot camp aren't Marines yet, so it's outta respect they call Marines sir and ma'am. Once they earn the title then you address them by their rank.
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SrA Wing Cyber Security Officer
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So I've had this issue before and my go to move is to just call them by their rank. It's quick and you'll never be wrong.
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SCPO Rick Hunter
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The proper form of address for a Marine E-7 is Gunnery Sergeant. For a Navy E-7 it's Chief; Army and USAF both apparently address their E-7s as just Sergeant. Call a Gunnery Sergeant, "Sergeant" and he or she will probably inform you in no uncertain terms they were a Sergeant 6 years ago and have been promoted twice since then. Formally, Marines do not shorten Enlisted Grades, e.g. an E-5 is addressed as Sergeant, NEVER "Sarge"; E-6 is addressed as Staff Sergeant; E-8 and E-9 are tricky for the non-initiated. E-8 can be either First Sergeant (diamond and three rockers) or Master Sergeant (crossed rifles and 3 rockers). E-9s are either Sergeant Major (star and four rockers) or Master Gunnery Sergeant (bursting bomb and 4 rockers).

You know how you NEVER call an Army Command Sergeant Major just Sergeant Major? Well that goes about ten times for never calling a Master Gunnery Sergeant "Gunny" or worse yet, Sergeant. I don't even want to be around to see the bloodshed if that happens.

Navy is pretty simple. E-4 to E-6 are addressed as Petty Officer; E-7s as Chief; E-8s as Senior Chief and E-9s as Master Chief.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Ronnie Reams
8 y
SGT (Join to see) - Machinist Mate
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SGT Cbrn Nco
SGT (Join to see)
8 y
Oh wow! It's real! thought you were joking! One of those technical terms, eh Sir?
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
PO1 Kevin Dougherty
8 y
MAJ Ronnie Reams - There was a brief proposal from the Navy to change to an MOS system similar to the other services for specialties. To say it was not well received was an understatement. The term Petty Officer (originally petit officer) dates back hundreds of years, as do some of the rates. Tradition dies hard, and when it is that old and hallowed, very hard.

The Commandant of the USCG flatly rejected the idea, understandably so, our relatively few ratings are much lest specialized than the other services. Most of the units I was at only had 10-20 people, so on any given day, you could find yourself filling any of a myriad of roles, from SK, to RM, to RD, the list goes on and on.

Personally, I feel the move would have been a mistake. The Navy ratings are much more specialized than the USCG, but from what I have seen, sill much less specialized than most MOS descriptions.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
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I think your first mistake was using Marine Corps Boot camp as your base of knowledge. Recruits refer to everyone as Sir/Ma'am because they are not yet Marines and have yet to earn the right to address them as a fellow Marine.

Here is the run down for actual Marines.
Basically Officers are Sir/Ma'am.

Enlisted call them directly by their Rank. A staff Sergeant is a Staff Sergeant. Gunnery Sergeant is a Gunnery Sergeant. No sarge, nothing like that. As a non Marine that is your left and right lateral limits.
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SSG Mark Franzen
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You Have Address people to what they are And Sarge is not a Rank it is Fish it's in the dictionary. I was brought up that I called everyone sir Or by their names not in military before
that. But today Being around for almost 61 years Kid have No respect for there elders.
SSG MARK FRANZEN
VET
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SGT James Ray
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In Marine boot camp we use the term Sir & Ma'ma we don't call NCOs by rank until we get done with boot camp
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PO3 Christopher Jonah Nelson
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An E7 or any NCO?

As an E7 if they were in the Navy, you'd call them Chief, and at least between Navy and Marine Corps, we would call them Gunny. We never really dealt with senior NCOs from the Army or Air Force, though.

For the junior NCOs, we usually just called them Sargent or Petty Officer. Not the full rank, but the shortened version.
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